Kutztown University commit and right-handed pitcher Bryce Schafer

The road to the District 3-2A championship game was a bumpy one for Kutztown's Bryce Schafer.  The pitcher and first baseman had shoulder surgery in December of 2021.  He experienced soreness this April and wasn't allowed to pitch for a month.  That adversity made his performance at Wenger Field in Fredericksburg on Thursday afternoon even more gratifying.  Schafer tossed a complete game five-hitter with five strikeouts in a 5-1 victory over top-seeded Halifax.  "As soon as I came on the mound, I felt great. I felt electric. I'm speechless," Schafer told SV Sports' Paul Roberts.  All four of his pitches were working.  The big righty threw 99 pitches, 70 for strikes.  The (20-3-1) Wildcats were riding a 12-game winning streak and hitting .341 as a team.  They were hitless until the 4th inning and didn't score until a pair of triples by Brandon Schell and Ben Kline in the 7th.  Schafer helped himself with a solo home run that just stayed fair and barely got over the fence down the right field line in the 3rd inning.  Schafer, Kole Schuler, and Colin Hamm each had two hits for the second-seeded Cougars.  Dom Pizzelanti went 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs.  Kutztown earned its sixth District 3 title.  "To go out with a district championship is awesome. We're gonna remember it forever," said Schafer.  He's headed to Kutztown University where his dad, Adam, is an assistant coach.  By beating Halifax, the (17-6) Cougars qualified for the state tournament.  Schafer is one of five seniors this season and all five are starters.  "We're so close...I can't even explain how tight we are. We're brothers through and through," remarked Schafer.